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Beyond the Breeze: 5 Surprising Lessons from the 2025 J/70 World Championship
The J/70 World Championship stands as the pinnacle of modern one-design racing, a title so coveted it attracts the upper echelon of the sport—from Olympic medalists to America’s Cup legends. The 2025 edition, hosted by the prestigious Yacht Club Argentino, was a masterclass in complexity. Over five days, 71 teams from 16 countries were tested by the notoriously shifty conditions of the Río de la Plata. Known as the widest river in the world, its shallow waters and challenging river currents created a tactical minefield that rewarded only the most technically precise and resilient crews.
As a performance analyst, I look past the leaderboard to find the data-driven truths that defined this regatta. Beyond the historic results, the event provided critical technical takeaways on boat handling, crew dynamics, and the evolution of the class. Here are the five most impactful lessons from the 2025 Worlds.
- Breaking the “Glass Hull”: The Grondin Milestone
The 2025 Championship will forever be remembered as the year the “glass hull” of the J/70 class was shattered. Laura Grondin and her team on Dark Energy (USA) didn’t just win; they rewrote the narrative by becoming the first helmswoman in class history to claim the World Champion title.
Grondin’s victory was the culmination of a deliberate, five-year performance evolution. Her success was rooted in a critical psychological pivot: she transitioned from the mindset of “beating the other women” to a singular, relentless focus on “beating everyone.” In a fleet where every tenth of a knot is earned through grit and chemistry, Grondin proved that resilience is the ultimate performance multiplier.
“It’s been a five-year run. None of this happens by yourself. It takes a team. What makes us world champion? The ability to be resilient. We’ve stood on a lot of podiums, but being first is different. It just is.” — Laura Grondin, 2025 World Champion
- The “Heel” Trap: Why Feeling Good is Doing it Wrong
One of the most counter-intuitive technical lessons came from North Sails expert Zeke Horowitz: “If it feels good, you’re probably doing it wrong.” Because the J/70 exhibits a “deadstick” feel on the helm, many sailors instinctively crave leeward heel to create a “tug” on the tiller. While this load feels “right,” it is a speed-killer that increases rudder drag and destroys laminar flow on the keel.
Performance data from the event confirms a “huge cliff” once the boat heels past 20 degrees, where the hull begins to slip sideways. To stay in the “power groove” of 14–17 degrees of heel amidst the Río de la Plata’s steep chop, a coordinated three-way effort is required:
- Jib Trimmer: Must play the in-hauler “banjo style” from the weather rail—dumping power in puffs to keep the boat flat and pulling it back in lulls to regain drive.
- Main Trimmer: Must manage a high-tension range using the backstay. In big puffs, the goal is to “invert” the main, creating an “overbend wrinkle” from the clew to flatten the sail profile and reduce drag.
- Helmsperson: Must ignore the lack of “feel” and focus on delicately feathering the boat up to take heel out, even when the bow is being smacked by sets of ferocious chop.
- The Myth of the “Dominant Leader”
The 2025 Worlds underscored the staggering parity of the J/70 class. In a testament to the “Strict One-Design” philosophy—where hulls, rigs, and appendages are manufacturer-controlled to ensure the test is between crews, not equipment—a different boat won every single one of the ten races.
In such a compressed fleet, local knowledge of the “widest river” proved to be the differentiator. South American teams displayed remarkable geographical dominance, securing four of the top five overall positions. While Grondin took the gold, Argentina’s Guillermo Parada on Nildo (2nd) and Brazil’s Bruno Bethlem on Aretê (3rd) showcased a masterclass in navigating the river’s shifty currents and tidal surges. Their success highlights that when the equipment is identical, the ability to read the water’s “micro-currents” becomes the primary performance lever.
- The Corinthian “Family Office” on Water
While the J/70 is often a playground for “hired gun” professionals, the Corinthian division (reserved for non-professionals) proved that lifelong trust can outperform a pro paycheck. The Ducasse Sailing Team from Chile delivered the event’s most poignant storyline, sweeping the Corinthian title with a crew consisting of a father and four sons on board, supported by a fifth son as coach.
Their victory was a reminder that the J/70 is a platform where “team chemistry” isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a tangible advantage. In a high-stress environment like the World Championship, the intuitive communication found in a family unit can provide the split-second coordination needed to execute a perfect “Mexican” douse at a crowded leeward mark.
“As the father of these kids, I’m grateful to God, grateful to sailing… Above all, I thank my sons for the opportunity to compete by their side.” — Andrés Ducasse, 2025 Corinthian World Champion
- Knowing Your Tool: The “Racing Machine” vs. the “Casual Sailor”
A common pitfall for new owners is treating the J/70 like its versatile cousin, the J/80. As the 2025 Worlds demonstrated, the J/70 is a specialized “technical racing machine.” While the J/80’s fixed keel and higher volume allow it to “live in a slip” for casual afternoons, the J/70 demands a different logistical and physical commitment.
To preserve hull finish and maintain strict weight tolerances (812 kg dry weight), the J/70 is optimized for dry storage and frequent trailering. The physical demands are equally high; racing this boat requires:
- Physical Agility: A deck-stepped carbon mast and retractable keel demand precise rigging, while the crew must constantly employ the “weight back” technique in heavy chop to prevent the bow from slamming.
- Tactical Precision: The bow person must be a specialist in “puff and lull” calls, as the high-aspect jib and powerful masthead asymmetric spinnaker are unforgiving to slow reactions.
- Rig Maintenance: Success requires obsessive attention to rig tension, often using a Loos Gauge to hit specific settings (e.g., 31 or 32 on the uppers) to prevent the main from “blowing up” in heavy air.
Conclusion: The Horizon Ahead
The 2025 World Championship was a watershed moment for the J/70 class, proving that the summit of the sport is accessible to anyone with the discipline to master its technical nuances. Laura Grondin’s victory is not just a personal achievement but a signal to the fleet that inclusivity and performance are now inextricably linked.
As we look toward future campaigns, the lessons of the Río de la Plata remain: technical precision is nothing without resilience, and speed is often found just past the point where the boat feels “good.”
For your next regatta, ask yourself: Are you chasing the comfort of a “loaded” tiller, or are you disciplined enough to sail flat, chop wood, and find the speed hidden on the edge of the cliff?